Sat 21st May

Clark ton sets up win for first XI

RD1S Nomansland 172-8  Sway 242-5. Sway won by 70 runs
 
Sway 1sts made it 3 out of 3 with convincing win at Nomansland's unique and charming ground. Clark won the toss and elected to bad on an uncertain looking wicket. Clark and Alex Hall got down to business setting the innings up nicely with 52 on the board after 12 with no loss. However, Hall's new off-field distraction continued to hamper his batting as a lack of concetration caused a loose shot that sent him back to the pavillion for 21. Barry Jones came to the crease and after a couple of watchful overs started to open up soring a rapid 21 before a mix up saw Clark send Jones back from a quick single which ended Jones's brief camio. Next in was ex-skipper Jon Grasham who displayed some nice blows before getting carried away and caught at long on for 11. The experienced Kev Glass was next in and played the situation well spreading the ball all round the park. Clark moved onto a chanceless 50 showing good temperment and concentration. Glass unfortunatley took on one tight single too many and ran himself out for 23 which brought Jackson Rogers to the square. The stylish Aussie started well, running good singles and 2's with Clark accelerating the scoreboard nicely. Rogers then started to tee off with some big sixes and some classy drives, before eventually being caught in the deep out for a vey useful 35. This braught new dad Steve How to the crease to join Clark who was now pushing into on the 80's. With time running out it was going to be a close call on whether Clark would reach 100, however, the pair were pinching some nice singles which brought Clark upto 99 on the last ball of the game. The field came in so no single was on offer, however, Clark clipped the ball off his legs for 4 finishing on 103 not out How 8 not out and the team total upto a very decent 242
 
Sway went about their business of winning the game with the Steadman brothers opening up the bowling. Robert steadman picked up the opener Mason for 8 caught well by How at second slip. Next over he struck again in a copycat dismissal caught again by How removing Reynolds for a Duck. David Steadman, in his first season for the first eleven, was bowling a great line at the other end to give Nomansland no relief. Robert Steadman eventually finished a great spell with figures of 7-0-20-2. Steve Thistleton replaced David Steadman and struck first ball with a full accurate in swinger removing the skipper R. White for just 7. Thistleton picked up a further wicket to finish with 2-24 off his 8 overs. Grasham, who for the second season running, opted not to open the bowling on Nomansland somewhat uneven run-ups was struggling with a dead ball,  dead track and an uphill run up, however, he stuck to his not inconsiderable guns, restricting the batsmen and killing off any hopes the home side may have had of victory. Alex Hall replaced Grasham and bowled some intelligent legspin and  and managed to pick up 4 wickets off 10 overs as the life ebbed out of the Nomansland innings. David Steadman returned at the end for a final two over burst to see if Sway could pick up maximum bowling points, however he couldn't get anything out of the ball but nevertheless finished a great economical spell of 7 overs for just 16 runs. Nomansland finished on 172 for 8 rounding off another good performance from Sway maintaining their 100% record and pushing them up to 2nd in the table, behind Bishop Waltham. Sway host local rivals Burley next week in what should prove a tough test for Clark's men.